I found it, Susan - yes, that clue narrowed down the possibilities! It was Frodo; here is the original quote:

Quote:

'Goldberry!' he cried. 'My fair lady, clad all in silver green! We have never said farewell to her, nor seen her since the evening!'

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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

But later, sir, since you hate the lady ____, crawl as slowly as my knees and throw away queen's iron, since here is no branch out of the country.

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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

This quote has been up a week with no takers - I'll give a hint in hopes of encouraging some brave soul. The key word is "queen's iron" - think of the thinnest form of metal you know as the opposite of iron. And the opposite of queen should be obvious...

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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

*Estelyn applauds* You got it, mark12_30! Yes, I've always loved the humor in that chapter - and yet another aspect of Aragorn's character that makes him so fantastic! Your turn - looking forward to what you come up with!

*Estelyn briefly considers sueing Rimbaud just for fun, then remembers that his knowledge of legal matters is greater than hers and dismisses the idea.*

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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

That one took some serious searching, but I found it; the speaker is Frodo, in Rivendell.

Quote:

'Yes, you have seen a thing or two since you last peeped out of a looking-glass,' he said to his reflection. 'But now for a merry meeting!'

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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

Yea, the hostess who has been caught in the cellar will not feel once when she goes away through the window.

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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

This quote has me puzzled, HI - I thought of the Three Runners, but nothing there seemed to fit. I also thought of the Eagles, but again, found no match. Will you give a clue, please?

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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

Thanks for another clue, HI - I've almost reread the Hobbit and still can't find it. The word 'entity' is puzzling me - if it were 'enemy', it could be this quote by Thorin to Bilbo:

Quote:

"Get down now to your friends!" he said to Bilbo, "or I will throw you down."

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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

Take it that I have disposed of my share as I wish, and let it go at that!

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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

Here is nothing which is not worse to end and to accept, since the beginning has been light.

(No, HI, yours wasn't crude - just not one of the better known quotes, and it was difficult to guess the opposite of the word 'entity'!)

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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

Quite right, HI - I guess that was fairly obvious. It is a nice quote, isn't it? Go ahead with a new one!

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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'